David Leggat: McCullum's meddling factor in dour display

Brendon McCullum. Photo / Getty Images

If New Zealand had one wish out of the first test it might have been nothing as grand as cleaning up Australia in their favourite back yard.

It may just have been as simple as putting in a quality performance, get themselves a good foothold in the three-match rubber, and obviously not lose.

Other New Zealand teams have arrived in Brisbane with similar aims going back to the first visit in 1980.

With a couple of honourable exceptions - the Hadlee test of 1985 obviously, and the draw in 2001, which could have been a stunning win but for negative bowling tactics at the death by the hosts - plans and aspirations have come unstuck.

Which is why the events of the first two days of 15 in the series were so disappointing for New Zealand.

Sure the batting was impressive from Australia on a good pitch, and no chances were grassed. But there was an inability to put real, sustained pressure on the batsmen.

The bowlers, Tim Southee the honourable exception, seemed unable to bowl to a plan, on the right line and length and build pressure.

If things are not going your way with the ball, the backup plan has to be making runscoring a testing proposition. Bowling maidens helps for a start.

In the 130 overs of Australia's innings, just 18 were runless. Eight of those 18 were Southee's. Again, more reason to bemoan his loss.

By the time Australia had declared an hour before tea yesterday, they'd put up three 150-plus partnerships, struck 66 fours, and the bowling had long become fodder.

It wasn't just Australian eyes who puzzled at some of the captaincy manoeuvres from Brendon McCullum.

He's not a man who likes to let things slide, is forever looking to be inventive and try to force events.

For former Australian captain and longtime commentator Ian Chappell, McCullum hurt, rather than helped his bowlers.

"McCullum contributed to their problems by having some impatient captaincy," Chappell said.

"It was almost like he was trying to justify his reputation as being a very inventive captain. In doing that he didn't help his bowlers."

Damning stuff, but this is a country where visiting players, particularly captains, are viewed in a sharp light.

The performances of the three batsmen on whom New Zealand had hunches they could exploit, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja and Adam Voges, showed Australia's depth in a good light.

Gone are Chris Rogers, Shane Watson and Michael Clarke. This isn't to say the three newish men (none are on debut) won't be found out in the next two tests, but 71, 174 and 83 not out will have left Australia's selectors well satisfied.

Saving a test requires a different mindset from pressing for a win. But desperate situations have been averted as recently as early last year. Think the Basin Reserve, India, McCullum, Jimmy Neesham and BJ Watling for the best example.

New Zealand need to bat superbly for the fat end of three days. It's been done before but Australia at the Gabba is a vastly different proposition to India at the Basin.